Films and Brews

Sure, I don't live in Milwaukee anymore, but once August rolled around this year I got that same feeling as I did the previous seven odd years I lived on the East Side: movie season! See, starting in the first weekend of June through the end of July, Milwaukee has a different festival every weekend, sometimes a couple at a time (I count my favorite, Brew Fest. Oh, how I was sad to miss you this year), and once those are done, fall seems to sneak up on everyone then disappear just as quick. But the good thing about the end of the summer festivals is the beginning of many other activities, most of which involves two of my favorite things: movies and alcohol. And unlike those overcrowded festivals, these are very budget friendly. Below is a list of events in the next couple of months that can make any film and brew lover happy.

Lebowski Fest, man.

August 16^th-17^th

I have only had the pleasure of sort of attending Lebowski Fest once, and it was by having a Lebowski inspired brunch at Café Centraal, but fuck me if it wasn’t a delicious, perfectly inspired brunch. Lebowski Fest is for the fans, the uber fans, and people who just want to see what the fuss is about. The party starts on August 16^th with live music and a White Russian liquid lunch at the Pabst Theater Pub then a (FREE!) screening of the film at Cathedral Square Park. AMF West Lanes continues the party on August 17^th with bowling, trivia, costume contests and more. The bowling has booked up fast in the past, so make sure to get tickets ahead of time! Click here to see the full itinerary.

Fish Fry and a Flick at Discovery World

August 30^th, September 6^th, September 13^th, opens 5pm, movie starts at dusk

I knew Friday fish fries were more a Wisconsin thing, but I didn't realize how almost non-existent fish fries were everywhere else. For out-of-towners who are not familiar: fish fries are just what they sound like, fried fish, but we add lots of beer and music to the mix and it is a weekly tradition at any restaurant, bar or event.

Towards the end of summer, Point Beer hosts a different movie for FREE along the lake at the steps of Discovery World while Bartolotta’s Restaurant Group provides the fish fry (not free) (lobster is also available, not free either) and if fish isn’t your thing, food trucks are lined up with other options. Even before the movie starts, there are still activities around the screening area such as bowling, ping pong, music and you can even venture in some parts of Discovery World.

This year’s series includes:

August 30^th: The Avengers 
September 6^th: Ted 
September 13^th: Django Unchained

Milwaukee Film Festival

September 26^th-October 10^th

I may be a little biased when I say this, but this is such a kick ass film festival that I don’t even know where to start. How about the opening night party, where you get to hang out with and meet other film lovers while noshing on delicious food and drink? Or the pre-movie cocktail specials at Hotel Foster? Or the after movie discussions that include, you guessed it, booze? Or that one of the venues is the beautiful and booze filled Oriental Theatre? Or the live orchestra that plays with a classic film? Or that it is two weeks full of amazing, local and international, long and short movies, including but not limited to past films Waiting for Superman, Precious, Drunk History, Marcel the Shell et cetera, et cetera?! HOW HAVE YOU NOT BOUGHT TICKETS YET?! Side note: be sure to sign up for their newsletter for updates.

The best of the rest…

Turner Hall’s Beer and a Movie series hasn’t shown anything since March but during the colder months movie nights pop up every now and then. College IDs get you in free, otherwise it is $5 with an option to add unlimited taps and rails until the movie ends for $15 as well as movie appropriate snacks.

Love Handle Food and Drink: Dinner and a Movie has so far hosted on Wednesday nights: Midnight in Paris, Thrashin’ and the classic, Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead.

Milwaukee County Parks host a more family friendly FREE outdoor movie series including Beetlejuice and Ghostbusters.

{all images used are via the event's facebook}